Why High School Coaches Should Switch to the Flexbone Triple Option w/Triple Option Football Academy
September 1, 2025
Why High School Coaches Should Switch to the Flexbone Triple Option w/Triple Option Football Academy
As a high school football coach, switching to the Flexbone Triple Option offense and utilizing the Triple Option Football Academy offers a proven path to transform your program into a championship contender. Below is a summary of why this shift is critical and how the Academy, led by Dr. Lou Cella, can help you achieve an elite performance environment.
Why Switch to the Flexbone Triple Option Offense?
1. Maximizes Limited Talent and Resources:
• The Flexbone Triple Option is ideal for teams with smaller rosters or less athletic players, as it emphasizes fundamentals, discipline, and execution over raw athleticism. For example, schools like Tussey Mountain (PA) with 25 players and Wyman King Academy (SC) with 14 players achieved state-level success after adopting this system.
• It simplifies offensive schemes, reducing the learning curve for players and coaches. Scobey (MT) noted the offense’s simplicity allowed their players to master a small number of plays, boosting confidence and execution against various defensive looks.
• The system’s efficiency helps small schools compete, as seen with Tyrone (OK), which won the 2020 Oklahoma Class C State Championship, averaging 51 points per game with a small roster.
2. Improves Time of Possession and Defensive Performance:
• The Triple Option controls the clock, keeping opposing offenses off the field and giving your defense a strategic advantage. Hollis (OK) reported 8-minute drives, which helped their defense by limiting opponents’ opportunities.
• Piedra Vista (NM) noted that their switch to the Triple Option improved their defense by winning field position and time of possession battles, contributing to a 9-3 season.
3. Proven Turnaround Results:
• Numerous programs have seen immediate, dramatic improvements after adopting the Flexbone Triple Option:
• Falls City (TX) won their first regional and state championships in 2010.
• Haverford (PA) went from 1-9 in 2023 to 11-2 in 2024, breaking school records.
• Timmonsville (SC) went from 1-9 in 2010 to the state semifinals in 2011 with just 21 players.
• Questa (NM) matched eight years’ worth of wins in a single season (2024) under a first-year coach.
4. Enhances Team Confidence and Identity:
• The system fosters a clear offensive identity, boosting player and coach confidence. Ontario Christian (CA) noted that Dr. Cella’s camp helped establish an identity where every player and coach knew their role, leading to a CIF State Quarterfinals appearance.
• Poland Regional (ME) reported players embracing the system, shrugging off setbacks and believing they could “break one at any time,” resulting in a record-setting season.
5. Adapts to Various Defensive Schemes:
• The Triple Option forces defenses to adjust, often putting them in a no-win situation. Garden County (NE) highlighted how the system takes the guesswork out of play-calling, ensuring defenses are wrong regardless of their alignment.
Why Utilize the Triple Option Football Academy?
1. Expert Guidance from Dr. Lou Cella:
• Dr. Cella, a Doctor of Sport and Performance Psychology, has over 15 years of experience teaching the Flexbone Triple Option, with a track record of turning around programs at the high school and college levels.
• His camps and online Academy provide step-by-step instruction on play-calling, installation, and practice, tailored to your team’s needs. Coaches like Luke Dougherty (Haverford, PA) credit Dr. Cella’s efficient teaching for their program’s turnaround.
2. Comprehensive Training System:
• Camps ($2,997-$3,997): Held on your campus, these 3-day camps involve over 600 live reps of the Army/Air Force Flexbone Triple Option, covering Zone Dive, Follow, Kick, Down, Midline Triple Option, Rocket Toss, Passing Game, and Situational Football. Camps include daily Q&A sessions and access to the online Academy.
• Online Academy ($997): Offers a 2-year membership with a 3-Step Clinic, 100+ hours of video (camps, drills, clinics, and state championship games), installation clinics (2014–present), a Training Camp Mastery Plan for 1,200 live reps in three weeks, elite practice plans, and 24/7 support from Dr. Cella.
• Live Webinar: Provides personalized Q&A with Dr. Cella to address your team’s specific challenges.
3. Elite Performance Environment:
• The Academy creates an environment that fosters actualization, awareness, self-mastery, and peak performance through sports science and mental conditioning. Coaches like Chris Collins (Lakewood, SC) noted the camp’s impact on team bonding and confidence, which translated to a record-breaking 8-win season.
• Dr. Cella’s fast-paced, high-rep approach ensures players and coaches master techniques quickly, as seen at Odessa-Harrington (WA), where a 20-player roster averaged 46 points per game.
4. Unmatched Accessibility and Support:
• Dr. Cella is available 24/7 for questions, offering timely, detailed advice on topics from play adjustments to in-season weight training. Dennis Gibson (Wyman King Academy) praised Dr. Cella’s prompt responses, which helped their small roster achieve a state championship appearance.
• The Academy provides resources like DVDs, practice schedules, and game plans, enabling coaches to implement the system immediately and plan for the entire season, as noted by Dr. Jimmy Woods (Timmonsville, SC).
5. Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient:
• The camp and Academy are more cost-effective than traditional methods like visiting colleges or buying DVDs, which can take years to yield results. Dr. Woods estimated that the camp reduced the learning curve by two years, delivering immediate success.
• The structured approach maximizes practice efficiency, critical for high school teams with players competing on both sides of the ball, as emphasized by Anthony Sottasante (Tussey Mountain, PA).
Conclusion
Switching to the Flexbone Triple Option offense through the Triple Option Football Academy is a strategic move to elevate your high school football program. The system’s simplicity, adaptability, and focus on execution make it ideal for maximizing limited talent, controlling games, and achieving rapid turnarounds. Dr. Lou Cella’s expertise, comprehensive training resources, and 24/7 support create an elite performance environment that drives championships, playoff runs, and program-changing success. By investing in the Academy’s camps and online resources, you can streamline installation, boost team confidence, and build a sustainable, high-efficiency offense that positions your team as a state-championship contender in 2025 and beyond.
